The Unforeseen [EDITING]

Chapter Seven

The wooden door creaked as it was being opened. Looking around her room, it had been cleaned and the bed was made. A hard knock came to her door and she opened it, seeing that it was Norman. He came in quickly before closing the door.
     "Norman, how did Silas know where to find me?"
     "He says that something was pointing him in that direction, he was so sure," Norman answered, he was still puzzled himself.
     Timena would bet money that Clara had something to do with this; something pointing him that direction? What a coincidence... She'd left to take care of something only for Silas to find her shortly after, but it didn't make sense.
     "Your father wants to see you in the great hall." Norman's voice interrupted her thoughts.
     With a sigh, she left the room.

     Opening the large doors, she walked in at a leisurely pace. Silas, Aldus, and Miro stood facing King Vassar and Queen Adelia, they turned their heads to see her walking towards them. Delacroix looked frightened to her core and Timena took the utmost satisfaction in that. She sat rather close to their mother and continued to hold her head high as though she was proud or even justified in her actions. Timena chuckled, she was about to show her otherwise.
     Ignoring Silas' gaze, she was fueled by anger as she presently stood before her family.
     "Timena, we were so worried. What would cause you to run off like that?" Adelia practically ran over to her daughter, hugging her tightly. Timena could feel herself slightly softening at her mother's sudden affection but immediately ignored the feeling.
     "You know why I left." She turned her head in Silas' direction, and he smirked devilishly at her.
     "What a lovely sister you are Dela, I guess I know now that my secrets are truly safe with you." Pulling away from her mother, she walked up a few steps to Delacroix who stood up from her chair. Timena was a few inches taller compared to her sister who was only a mere five feet and two inches tall, she looked down at her. Delacroix looked to be seething with anger herself.
     "Now you can have everything, am I right? Our father's affection and now Sil-" Immediately stopping her from finishing that sentence, a hard slap seemed to echo in the room and Delacroix now held her cheek in shock.
     "Timena what has gotten into you?" Her mother yelled as her father walked over, pulling on her arm to move her away from Delacroix.
     "Fuck you, it has always been about you! It's always you, this is all your fault!" She suddenly screamed, punching and just barely missing Timena's face.
     Yanking her arm back, she pushed Delacroix forcefully back down in the seat before kicking the chair back.
     Delacroix screamed in horror as she fell backward.
     A set of arms entrapped her own behind her back as Timena felt herself being pulled away.
     "Girls control yourselves," Vassar said sternly before being interrupted.
     "Does everyone know about you as well father? Do they know what you've done?" Timena thrashed in the tight hold and turned around as much as her body would allow, seeing that it was Silas who was holding her back. She glared at him before being led out of the room.

     Managing to get out of Silas' grips, Timena pushed against his broad chest. His stance barely shifted at the force.
     "Don't you ever put your fucking hands on me again." She spat out. Silas looked down at her, the hint of a smile pulling at his lips.
     "You'll want me to do more than that one day, I assure you my princess."
     Who the- Who the fuck does he think he's speaking to?
     He seemed content with what he had said, simply waiting for a retort.
  "You'd never be so fucking fortunate." She countered, before turning around and walking away.
     His footsteps followed and Timena began to pick up her pace, rounding a corner before feeling herself being pushed against the wall. Silas' arms entrapped her as he stared at her, she looked away.
     "You fighting me, only makes me want you more.  You're smart enough to realize that, I'm certain." His body was mere inches away from hers as he whispered in her ear. She felt a strange sensation deep in her stomach but ignored it.
     "You don't know what you want, you're interested because I won't fall to my knees at the sight of you like the others. That's all it is." Timena pushed with all her might, but Silas wouldn't budge. His eyes followed her movements and he smiled at her.
     "That is where you're wrong Timena, I want every inch of you, mind and body. And don't worry, you'll fall to your knees in front of me one day and you'll want to, I assure you of that." The gleam in his eye was disarming as Timena peered up at him. She forcefully brought her knee up to his abdomen and Silas grunted as he hunched over in pain. Timena walked off without looking back.
     As she reached the kitchen downstairs, her pace slowed. Timena released a heavy breath as she felt the breeze blowing in through the open door. He had some fucking nerve.
     Timena was momentarily startled at the sight of a tall, broad-shouldered man standing in black armor outside. She rolled her eyes realizing that Silas was most definitely going to have someone watching her every move from now on. They traveled down the hill, the guard shadowing her movements as they made it into the stables.
     "Timena, is it true you beat Delacroix to a pulp?" Enoch's excitement was barely being contained as he ran over to her.
     Word surely travels fast.
     She placed her hands on both of his shoulders to steady him. "That's over-exaggerating things, I did not beat her to a pulp Enoch." Although, I wish I would have.
     His shoulders fell slightly as he waited for an explanation.
     "I simply talked to her, that's all." Almost immediately, they smiled at one another, knowing that wasn't true.
     Timena looked to Enoch in confusion as he hastily left the stable—as she turned around, she now realized why.
     King Vassar stood at the entrance, he smiled sadly as Timena's gaze fell on him.
     "Could I have a word?" His tone was gentle. She didn't say a word but waited expectantly for him to enter.
     "I certainly don't blame you for hitting your sister, but you have to forgive her eventually Mena. She feels terrible, your mother and I could see it in her face." Vassar said as he took a seat on an old stool.
     "And what about me? This is partly her fault, I can't leave. I am now being followed by this rather large barnacle. No offense." She said towards the guard in the corner of the room.
      He shrugged his shoulders.  "Under the circumstances, none taken." 
     "Tell me the truth or just go." Timena tried to calm herself.
   "I never wanted you to find out, but Mororcin has been in a bit of a financial bind and this was his request... your hand in marriage. He's been very kind in assisting us as well as getting other allies on our side." Resting his hand against his forehead, he let out a heavy breath.
     "How long?" She asked angrily.
     "A few years perhaps." He spoke quietly. "When Jarvis passed away last year, in return for continuing to help us, Silas made one demand. To have you as his wife."
          Timena's head turned in his direction, shocked at his response. "A few years, Mororcin has been under the assistance of Calyx for a few years. Who else knew?"
     "Your mother, she wasn't thrilled. He promised to keep his word if I kept mine." He said, ashamed. "I offered him anything, and everything else but he wanted you, this was why I always tried to keep him away from you when you were younger—he's shown interest in you for quite some years." He let out a dry laugh.
     "So, you just made a fair trade huh?" She asked, incredulously.
     "I tried to persuade him into choosing your sister, but he's a stubborn bastard that man. I-I'm so sorry Timena."
     She looked down at him. "So that's it. You gamble your firstborn away and now I suffer the consequences?"
      "As your father, I want to tell you that you don't even have to look at him, let alone consider marrying him but as a king..." He couldn't finish the sentence. Vassar couldn't look at his daughter, he would never have a proper explanation for using her as a trading tool.
     Timena couldn't help but sympathize, in some ways understanding the position her father was in. It must have been extremely difficult for him.
     Why are you trying to rationalize his side of the situation? He basically sold you away. Timena reminded herself.
     "How did you think this would work out?" She asked.
     He remained silent, unable to face her.
     "Nothing to say now?!" Her voice had risen to a scream, she was furious. Vassar sighed, looking up to her with a helpless expression. Timena huffed loudly before storming past the guard and out of the stable.

      Removing her gear as she slammed the bedroom door, Timena sank to the floor, her body completely sprawled out. She had been betrayed by her own father and sister, and most likely a witch she had begun to consider her friend. Her father's betrayal seemed to hurt the most, that he had basically sold her away like some common mule without her knowledge. Now there was no escaping. The tears welled up in her eyes and trailed down her cheeks, the silent tears turned to muffled sobs and her body began to shake.

     "Timena, oh my stars, oh no." Eurina's voice rang in Timena's ears and her head turned quickly as she squinted in her direction. Looking around, she realized she was still on the floor, she must have fallen asleep.
     "Why are you screaming?" Timena asked in a raspy tone.
     Eurina held her chest, sighing with sudden relief. "For a moment, I thought you'd-."
    Timena snorted, sitting up slowly. "You think I'd just go so quietly?" She asked, rhetorically.
    "If it were so, I would have been very disappointed in you," Eurina replied with a chuckle.  

     The bath had been set, the water was a bit cooler than expected but she didn't care, her body sloshed around as she washed herself thoroughly. When she was finished, she retrieved her bathrobe before stepping out of the tub.
      Timena slowly dressed, putting on a long-sleeved tunic and her breeches. Upon looking out her window, it was clear that she'd slept past morning and well into the afternoon. Peering down below, she wasn't too surprised to find that there were a few guards standing around the perimeter of the castle.
     The rumbling of her stomach was the only reason for her leaving the safety of her room and even then, she mentally debated whether she really needed to eat.
     The kitchen was at its' usual busy state when Timena finally made it down the staircase.     
     "Have a seat," Eurina said with a smile. "How are you feeling?" She asked in a hushed tone.
     "I am a bit calmer than before, but let's see what happens if I see Delacroix's face again," Timena replied sarcastically.
     Eurina held back her laughter, continuing to season the meat in front of her.
     "Now Timena, I cannot say that I disagree with what happened between you two, but eventually you'll have to speak to her again and possibly even forgive her." She suggested.
     Timena shook her head, lost in her own thoughts. "I'm too angry, you aren't the first to tell me that I should, just because she regrets what she's done. Does anyone not see that it was horrible for her to have done it in the first instance?! I've done nothing to her and our whole lives I've tried to be a good sister to her, to push her to have a relationship with father. I have never once betrayed her in any way so she can kiss. my. butt." She emphasized.
     Chuckling lightly, Eurina sighed. "She's been in your shadow your entire lives when it comes to your father and you are right, you aren't to blame. You've been a good sister, but jealousy and envy can remove any trace of rational thought. Forgive her because she's naive and made a mistake, a grievous mistake at that, not because people are telling you to. Give her an opportunity to right her wrong. I'm not saying you have to do it right away, maybe put her through the wringer a few times, I'm certainly going to, but eventually, forgive her."
     Eurina certainly knew how to put things into perspective. Timena didn't know if she had it in her heart to forgive Delacroix right now but she would keep Eurina's words in mind.

     Timena helped cut the vegetables, cook meat and make soup and bread. She felt slightly at peace helping Eurina, it made her feel as though everything was as it should've been even though it wasn't. Things were going to change, she wasn't exactly sure how or even when, but it was to be expected. Whenever her mind came across the unpleasant thought, she could feel her stomach tying itself in knots, no matter how much she tried to brush the thoughts away.
     Timena ate her meal in the kitchen that night with the company of Eurina and the kitchen staff. She harbored on her current predicament the entire meal, but she was thankful to not be in the presence of her family and Silas.